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Friday, March 10, 2017

Honestly, this should've been my first book of the week. This is the book, that after studying the book of Romans, transformed my thinking - giving me comfort that is only found in the gospel. I try to read this book every year because Milton Vincent did an excellent job of taking the gospel and explaining the life-transforming, powerful truths behind Christ's work on the cross. He beautifully outlines 31 valuable blessings the gospel bestows upon the life of a believer. It's impossible to read this book without gaining wisdom, without absorbing these benefits deep into ones heart, mind and soul, without treasuring the gifts given through Jesus Christ, without being utterly transformed!It is less than 100 pages, but these few pages offer diamonds - shining brilliantly against the black backdrop of our sin - preaching "life-giving, soul-reviving, heart-rejoicing" truths behind Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. (Quotations taken from Mike Bullmore's forward on page 4.)

If there is any book (other than the Bible) that I suggest a Christian must read - men and women alike - it is this one. I encourage you to read this book because it is not only a useful tool to help us digest the truth in the gospel daily, but it reminds us what is important and encourages to continually praise God for his gift of salvation. Plus, there is no better way to praise and glorify Him than to understand what the gospel is continually doing in our lives because of the work of Jesus Christ!

If you need further convincing, read my book review from October of 2013 here.

Friday, March 3, 2017

I picked up this book, published back in 2009, on a whim. A Bride in the Bargain by Deanna Gist was in a bargain bin somewhere and I only picked it up because the plot reminded me of childhood readings. At 12 years old, the idea of a mail-order bride during the 1800's fascinated me.

I can't say I had high expectations for this book. I do not know why this particular piece of history was so interesting, but I wanted to see if the plot synopsis was as stupid as it now sounds.

At page 231, this book surprised me and I could not put it down.

Want a love story worth your time? Self-sacrifice? Biblical perspective? A historical fiction written because of an author's excellent research? Read this one!

This became one of my favorite books on page 231. It is not that it was a bad book up to that point, but it was at that point the book went from average to phenomenal. All because of one character who helped Anna see how big God really is using my favorite Scripture; a turning point in my own life becoming one for the main character. Despite her being fiction, I felt a connection. She drove me crazy with her nonsensical reasoning behind the biggest moments of her life and was saddened to read the note her father wrote was one that actually existed. Which brings me to my next point: I enjoyed the book all the more when I finished with the author's note detailing her research behind this fantastic historical fiction novel. One that I did not go into with overwhelming confidence but would now recommend as a must read! And one that will stay on my shelf to read again someday.

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"It does not matter how small the sins are, provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts."— C.S. Lewis